Ch. 9 Response

Visualizing with Technologies

What are Visualization Tools?
Before reading this, I had never thought about the fact that we can hear things and respond orally, but cannot see things and respond in a visual way. Instead we have to make something that will then be visible to those who see it. It is difficult to do this in the way we want, especially if we are not very artistically talented. Visualization tools help us represent our own visual ideas. There are two kinds of visualization tools. Interpretive tools help learners understand complicated and abstract ideas. To me, this seems to be similar to models. The other type of tools are expressive, which help learners express their own ideas, thoughts, and beliefs.

Visualizing Scientific Ideas with Computers
I feel that science is an important area to use technology for visualizing. Many things are too small or too big to see with our own two eyes, so visual representations can help a lot. In our science class, we learned about using models (made by hand) to teach these concepts. However, I think using visualization tools are even better since they are more accurate and less work. Using these visualization tools in chemistry classes sounds very helpful. I know I struggled some with chemistry in high school and I think part of this was due to a lack of visual representations. Visualization tools can also be very helpful when learning geography, which is something that cannot actually be seen all at once without tools. Some of the tools listed in the book seem expensive and would require lots of resources. However, they do enable students to do some very interesting things. I thought the class that tracked the chemical spill had a very interesting project on their hands. The free programs such as Google Earth would probably be more likely to be used in an elementary classroom. I have been using Google Earth for years and really like it. Bing.com also has a similar program.
I would use a tool such as Google Earth in my classroom. I would use it when studying specific countries or cities as I could actually show my students what it looks like there. Also when zoomed out, you can get a very good look at the topography which would also be beneficial for students learning about different types of land forms.
Some websites that can help kids visualize science:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/science/games/5833.html
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp

Visualizing Mathematical Ideas with Technologies
Math is definitely an area of study that many students struggle with. This is in part because it is more abstract. Many students often think the numbers used in math do not mean anything and are simply numbers. Graphs and other visual representations can help show the real meaning of the numbers. I used graphing calculators in high school to assist in my understanding of certain functions. They were also very helpful with checking my own work when I had to create my own graphs, etc. Graphing calculators are good for older students but I do not think these are appropriate for elementary students. However, programs such as TinkerPlots could be used in the upper elementary classroom as they rely less on the student knowing complicated functions and more on seeing what certain functions represent. I would use a program similar to this in my classroom when discussing relationships between numbers and how certain data will affect other data in a specific way. This program could be beneficial in getting the students ready for later years when they begin studying algebra.
Some websites that have games that can help kids visualize:
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx
http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html

Visualizing with Digital Cameras and Mobile Phones
I definitely agree that technology has changed photography a lot. I did not get a digital camera until my freshman year in college. Before that, I used disposable cameras, and if I wanted to share pictures, I had to scan them after getting them developed. This was a big hassle and the quality was never very good. Digital cameras have changed my life a lot.
The book mentions using cameras to make personal documentaries of the students. I think this is a great idea because it incorporates technology with Language Arts and even art itself. I would also use digital cameras in science. For example, if my class is growing a plant, we could take a picture of it everyday so we could really see how much it grows and changes.

Visualizing with Video
I am somewhat familiar with using imovie and creating digital stories as I have had to do it before. However, I do not think I am very competent with it. I do think making movies can be useful in the classroom and with practice children can work well with the programs. I would have my students make a movie at the end of a unit. This would allow the students to express everything they have learned in a creative way. This is a good way to integrate many different subjects and to get students to collaborate.

Video Modeling and Feedback
When I first read the title of this section, I had no idea what it would be about. Video modeling is filming people showing certain skills or how to do things. I think this could be very useful in the classroom since students get to show their skills and knowledge. I have always been taught that if someone knows something well enough to teach it, they know it very well and sometimes in teaching they learn the concept better. The teacher can also model certain skills such as reading a book so that students can see exactly what they should be doing.
I know that people can learn a lot about themselves by watching themselves on video. I hate seeing myself on video, but I do learn a lot about how to adjust the way I do things by seeing myself do it. We are going to have the opportunity to have ourselves filmed doing the micro teaching in our science class. I think this could be very helpful but also very nerve racking.